St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-23
WITNESSES OF CHRIST.
Rev. Gjertsen breaches on the
Testimony OF Christians.

Testimony Oh Christians.
At Trinity Norwegian Lutheran
church Rev Falk Giertsen preached
from John XIV. %, and John xvi, 4:
In the church we have a sure and reli-
able testimony of Christ, who He is, how
He has lived and died, what He has
taught and done, complete, true and
perfect likneSs of Him. And this is the
foundation upon which Christianity
builds in the individual and in the
church. For Christianity is not only a
religion established by Christ and which
now is independent of its originator, not
only doctrine taught byHim, which re-
mains true, even if we know nothing OF
Him, its first, teacher. but Christians
are such people as believe in Jesus as
the Son of God and the Savior of the
world. He Himself is the content of
faith, the congregation of believers are
His body, He is their head, their fOun-
tain of life. Everything depends upon
a personal relation to Him, hence the
necessity of sure and reliable testi-
mony of Him. If it could be
established that the testimony
was doubtful then the foun-
dation of the church would be shaken;
could it be proven to be false, than
Christianity would be a lie. Therefore
have always the enemies of Christianity
attacked this point; from the earliest
times have they tried to disprOve the
testimony of the Scriptures concerning
Christ, knowing that then they GER
tainly have made Christianity out to be
farce. Christianity, the church,
stands and falls with the doctrine of the
divinity of Christ and His atonement for
the sins of the world. And who are the
witnesses? The apostles testify. They
were with Him from the beginning, fol-
lowed Him, heard what He taught, saw
what He did. Eye shall also bear wit
ness" They are good and pure wit
nesses, they left all for His sake, and
sealed their testimony with their blood.
Two or three witnesses are generally
required and counted sufficient Here
are more. We believe, what other peo-
pie as eye-witneSSeS have testified, all
history rests on such testimony. But
their testimony is Gods own testimony.
Human reliability alone is not sufficient
here. This history concerns us more
than any other history, it is the history
OF our redemption and salvation. 1t con-
Germs ourselves, our persons, our eternal
life depends upon it. But if | shall rely
so firmly on it, that [ will live and die
on it, then must l have more than mans
testimony. And Christ says that the
spirit shall bear witness. Man may be
mistaken. CaiphaS and PLATE also saw
Christ, saw His death, but how different
their testimony from the testimony of
Him from the beginning, and received
His instructions, and became imbued
with His spirit. There came dark
moments when even they doubted, yea
denied Him, but the spirit of God led
them from darkness into ever clearer
light until they wholly became the in
strumentS of the spirit of God, stood in
Christ's stead with His testimony.
And it is this same apostolic testimony
that we have amongst us o-day.
But this testimony is rejected by many.
There are those who think that if it
is true and reliable, that all must en-
brace it. Christ has said that His dis
cipleS shall be prosecuted and their
with the world worldly simple life,
the world looks upon you with satisfac-
ton and pleasure. If you turn from
the world, live for God and work to
bring others with you, the world will
hate you, SANDER you, perSecute, curse
you. 1t is not you it hates but Christ in
you. 1t is true they will cruelty again
and crown with thorns; but be not
afraid. These works of the persecu-
ton of the world, the wounds of the
disciples, are the fine medals and dec
orations of the Christians. The angels
bend down and kiss these wounds. O,
We Christians, where are the wounds
that We have received for Christ's sake?
When the Master shall look for these
marks of honor, shall He find them upon
you? Every Christian must bear witness.
All our service, our worship, our pray
ers, singing, works of charity, must be
testimony of Christ. Our lives must
testify of Him, our patience of His pa
thence, our love of His love. our holiness
of His holiness